Cigarette package or the like



Feb. 22, 1944. V; BELL 2,342,240

' CIGARETTE PACKAGE OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 17, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 vInventor L w '2 jmm VPILE/VT/NE BELL,

Feb. 22, 1944. 1.. v. BELL 2,342,240

CIGARETTE PACKAGE OR THE LIKE Filed Feb 17, 1942 Z'Sheets-Sheet 2Inventor M W Q Patented Feb. 22,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE V o'roana'r'ra PASZZI: on 'rna LIKE LeroyValentine Bell, Wakefield, a. 1.

Application February 17, 1942, Serial No. 431,299 2 Claims. (0!. zza-sriMy invention relates to improvements in paper cigarette packages of thetype which involve an inner paper wrapper, an intermediate foil orequivalent wrapper and an outer wrapper,.and a revenue stamp extendingacross the openable top of the package, and the primary object of theinvention is to provide simple and efficient pull tab means which iseasily and quickly operable from a partially concealed flat lyingcondition, to an upstretched position in which a continued pull on thetab results in severance of a substantial portion of the revenue stamp,followed by severance and removal of portions of the top of the packageat one side of the revenue stamp, so as to expose the cigarettes orother contents of the package for use.

Another important object oi. my invention is to provide improvements inthe subject matter of my prior Patent No. 2,252,611, granted August 12,1941, for Package, package opener, and stamp canceiler, so that thisgeneral form of package and package opener is made more practical andeiiicient from the manufacturing standpoint and the standpoint of theuser, and a neater and more presentable package is provided.

Other important objects and advantages of my invention will be apparentfrom a reading of the following description taken in connection with theappended drawings, wherein for purposes of illustration I have shown apreferred embodiment of my invention.

In the dram'ngs:

Figure 1 is a general plan view of the inner side of the flattened outpackage showing the tearing and opening tab cemented in place on theinner face of the inner wrapper.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the opposite side of Figure '1.

' Figure 3 is a top plan view of the package enclosed in an extraCellophane wrapper.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 with the Cellophane wrapperremoved.

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view'showing the package after theoperation of the tab.

Figure 6 is atop. plan view of Figure 5. I

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the tab beforefolding into position during the formation and closing of the package.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the pull tab inextended position and showing further its association with the top ofthe package. I

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 generally designatesthe present package, which, with the exception of the presence andprecise arrangement of the opening and tearing tab 8 is formed like thepackage described in my prior Patent No. 2,252,611 alluded to above. Thepackage consists of an outside wrapper A of suitable paper on which thedecorative material is usually applied, the inner foil or other similarmaterial wrapper B, and the inner wrapper C which is usually of lightweight paper. In this instance the inner wrapper C is provided withrectangular tabs D and E to project upwardly intermediate the ends ofthe upper edges of the inner wrapper. The tabs D and E are arranged tobe superimposed by folding over upon each other and they are held inthis position by mucilage and the revenue stamp F which is secured bymucilage across-the top of the package as indicated in the drawings andin the usual manner. Under the tabs D and E the top of the inner wrapperC is folded in a generally conventional manner as indicated in Figure '7of the drawings.

It will be apparent from Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings that the upperpart of the inside or innermost wrapper C has its upper edge projectingabove the upper edge of the outside wrapper A on which the tabs E and Dare located, that the projecting portion of the innermost or innerwrapper C is provided at the positions of the ends of the package withparallel fold lines I and 8 which are arranged vertically and at rightangles with respect to a horizontal fold line 9, and that an-gulatedfold lines It and I l extending from the point of intersection of thefold lines I, 8 and 9. meet at the point I2 which is coincident with theupper edge l3 of the innermost or inner wrapper C. The describedportions correspond to the right hand end of the top of the package.-The front ortion of the left end of the top of the package folded downafter the front of the rear top edge has been folded down leaving theportions at the right hand end of the top stand up as indicated inFigure 7 of the drawings. Between the tab E and the left hand edge ofthe wrapper C a tape or strong paper ribbon, constituting the tab 6 issecured by cementing or other suitable means to the inner side of theinnermost wrapper C, and the attached portion 6' of the tab has adiagonal fold line I4, under the portion 6'.

The pull tab has a right angular bend I5 substantially parallel to theadjacent edge of theitop fold 20, as shown in Figures '7 and 8 andanother right angular bend I6 in the opposite direction. The bends l5and it are spaced at about the width of the top fold 20. A diagonal bend2i follows the bend it and this is followed by a bend 22 positionedsubstantially at right andrawings.

gles to the bends I5 and IS. The triangular tab l! is placed in thepocket between the bends l6, 2| and 22, with the remaining unbentportion of the pull tab lying along the top of the package under therevenue stamp F.

The package is formed and made up and closed in a. manner similar tothat described in my prior patent herein identified, except that beforeclosing up the right hand end of the top thereof and imposing therevenue stamp F, the attached end of the tab 6 is folded along the rightangu lar line l5 as indicated in Figure 7 of the drawings in a laterallyoutward direction and then bent on a similar rectangular line asindicated by the numeral IS in the opposite direction and the resultantaccordion pleat is compressed and the triangular tab I1 is brought downinto place thereover, with the remaining portion of the tab 6 flattenedon the top of the folded tabs D and E. The revenue stamp F is thenapplied to the package over the tabsE and D and the tab 6 lyingthereover, so that the free end i 8 of the pull tab is exposed at theopposite side of the tabs D and E and the revenue stamp F, as indicatedin Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings. The exterior Cellophane wrapper,commonly used, is applied to enclose the package described, and theslits I9 are formed in the top of the Cellophane wrapper to be onopposite sides of the free end of the pull tab to facilitate the tearingof the Cellophane wrapper by the insertion of the finger or thumb nailto gain access to the pull tab for opening the packag as described.

The right hand top portion only of the package is opened and the revenuestamp F cut away as indicated in Figure 5 of the drawings, by pulling upon. the free end of th tab 6 with the right hand in a right handmovement while holding the package in the left hand. After passingthrough the revenue stamp the tab 6 reaches the position illustrated inFigures '7 and 8 of the From this position continued pulling in anupward direction on the free end of the tab results in tearing away ofthe top portions of the inner wrapper C, and the intermediate wrapper B,the outer wrapper A being undisturbed so as to expose the contents ofthe package, such as cigarettes, as shown in Figures 5" and 6 of thedrawings. A Although I have shown and described herein a preferredembodiment of my invention, it is to be definitely understood that -I donot wish to limit the application of the invention thereto, except asmay be required by the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a cigarette package, a rectangular container including an outerwrapper terminating at one end of the container, and inner andintermediate wrappers, respectively, folded from the sides and ends ofthe top of the container to provide overlapping flaps extending alongsaid sides and end flaps interlapping with said first flaps, a pair oftabs on said outer wrapper folded down over the first flaps across thesame in overlapping relation, a revenue stamp secured over said tabs,and a pull tab of tape-like form and uniform width having one endsecured fiat to the inner fiap at one end of the top and folded alongoblique and right angled transverse lines adjacent said secured endthereof into interlapping relation with the flaps of said end of the topand having a major portion extending along one side of the top over thesame and said tabs and beneath the revenue stamp and terminating in afree finger grip end projecting from beneath said stamp.

2. In a cigarette package, a rectangular container including an outerwrapper terminating at one end of the container. and inner andintermediate Wrappers, respectively, folded down from the sides and endsof the top of the container to provide overlapping flaps extending along'said sides and end flaps interlapping with said first flaps, a pair oftabs on said outer wrapper folded down over the first flaps across thesame in overlapping relation, a revenue stamp secured over said tabs,and a pull tab of tape-like form and uniform width having one endsecured fiat to the inner flap at one end of the top and folded alongoblique and right angled transverse lines adjacent said secured endthereof into interlapping relation with the fiaps'of said end of the topand having a major portion extending along one side of the top over thesame and said tabs and beneath the revenue stamp and terminating in afree finger grip end projecting from beneath said stamp, said pull tabhaving adhesive on one side thereof securing the same to said stamp.

LEROY VALENTINE BELL.

